Deepak Chopra speaks to the Chronicle on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 in the publisher's conference room at The Chronicle in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Russell Yip, The Chronicle

Deepak Chopra speaks to the Chronicle on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 in...

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Deepak Chopra speaks to the Chronicle on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 in the publisher's conference room at The Chronicle in San Francisco, Calif.
Ran on: 11-01-2009
Spiritualist and alternative medicine guru Deepak Chopra speaks to The Chronicle during his recent visit.

Deepak Chopra is one busy spiritualist, physician, alternative medicine guru, author, motivational speaker, philosopher, radio host and celebrity. Somehow, Chopra also finds time to write a weekly column for The Chronicle's SFGate.

Chopra keeps a furious pace of world travel for his appearances, but he says he always looks forward to going home to San Diego. He's written scores of books, including his latest, "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You" (304 pages, Harmony), which he was promoting in San Francisco recently. After his morning routine of working out and meditating, Chopra sat down with us and talked about the state of things.

Q:With so many people out of jobs and facing a less certain future, what is your advice for living well in these changing times?

A: De-clutter your life. Give away things to Goodwill or to people in need. When you buy something, give away something. When you buy a new pair of shoes, give a pair to somebody who needs them. Focus on relationships, not consumption. Take part in the "gift economy" - giving away things to help others.

Q:You travel widely and often. What is your opinion of San Francisco?

A: Very few cities have soul. A city needs a little grit to have a soul. I think San Francisco has a soul. Its soul is Bohemian, relaxed and friendly. It also has a generous soul, which you see with how it treats its homeless.

Q:Who needs to listen to the spiritual advice of Deepak Chopra?

A: India and China are going the same route we did 40 years ago. They're emerging economies and they're doing everything wrong. They're building their wealth based on greed, ruthlessness, selfishness, the exploitation of women and children. Nothing good will come of that.

Q:Tell us about your glasses - we've never seen anything like them.

A: My children gave them to me. But they don't have real diamonds on them, they're Swarovski crystals!